Rocks roll out of gate 7-2

A move to a new conference has proved to be the perfect tonic for the East Rockaway softball team following a forgettable 2021 season.

After failing to win any of its 12 games in Conference III last spring, the Rocks moved to Conference IV and are again showing the form that made them Long Island champions three years ago with a 7-2 start, buoyed by three straight wins and five in their last six contests.

Their only loss during that stretch was a tough extra-inning defeat to conference-leading Glen Cove on April 4. The teams were tied at 2 after regulation before the Big Red plated five runs in the top of the ninth to seal the victory.

“We’re winning games with good defense and scoring more runs than our opponent,” said coach Joe Lores. “It’s the exact same starting lineup as last year. The pitching of the league is not at the caliber as it was last year. That’s the difference between [conferences] three and four.”

But the recent surge did come with a price as ace pitcher Sofia Ramirez went down with an injury late in a 4-2 win over Mineola on April 2. During her sixth-inning RBI single, the Mustang defense attempted to tag her out as she was returning to first base bag after rounding it and the first baseman inadvertently stepped on her pitching hand, causing a hairline fracture.

Ramirez had already won three games this spring and her timetable to return remains unknown. Senior Amanda Loyer has filled in admirably and was the winning pitcher in each of the game during the winning streak to push her total to four.

“She pitches to contact, so we’ve been playing good defense behind her,” Lores said of Loyer. “She doesn’t really strike out a whole lot of people, but she also doesn’t walk a whole lot of people, so she gives us a chance to play defense behind her, which is good.”

The offense has already scored 80 runs this season, 50 more than last year’s entire total. Adriana Ramirez is enjoying a bounce-back season at the plate, highlighted by a 4-for-5 performance with a triple, three RBI and three runs scored in a 12-1 rout of Carle Place on March 25.

She has also shown her defensive versatility by moving to shortstop this season after being the starting catcher in past years and was also the emergency pitcher against Glen Cove.

“She did not hit very well last year, but this year she’s hit very well,” Lores said. “We needed her to play shortstop this year and she’s doing a nice job for us.”

Third baseman Mimi Bilardello drove in three runs and Riley O’Hagan homered during the season-opening 17-0 win over Malverne on March 23. Bilardello and Loyer went deep to help the Rocks hold off North Shore 10-8 on April 6.

O’Hagan has also starred in the field with three outfield assists this season, including two at home plate, while junior Grace Wooding has displayed a strong arm and improved hitting as the new catcher.